Vol. 572 No. 3
63 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport when the attention of his Department was drawn to the plans to close the DART line at weekends; the alternative measures being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23404/03]
The DART system is now almost 20 years in operation and has provided an excellent level of service to users over that period. Apart, however, from the normal level of maintenance which one would expect from a rail network of this kind, only in recent years has there been any upgrading of the overall DART infrastructure. Since 2000, Irish Rail has increased the capacity of the system by almost 50% by introducing 38 new DART cars. More than 90,000 passenger journeys are now made on the system every normal weekday. The DART is, however, operating at capacity and earlier this year I approved an investment programme of €176 million in the system.
When this project is completed in 2005 it will provide 40 new air conditioned DART cars to bring the fleet from the original 80 units to 154 units; additional storage and other facilities for the new units; eight car train sets at peak hours, instead of the current maximum of six car trains; an upgrade of the power supply to enable it to handle the demands of longer trains; fully accessible stations along the route from Greystones to Malahide and Howth; and, a 30% increase in capacity from 11,800 to 16,000 passengers per hour at peak times in each direction. Phase two of the project, which will involve increasing the frequency of the services, will commence in 2005 and will take about two years to complete.
My Department and I have been aware for some time of Irish Rail's proposals to upgrade the DART, including plans not to operate services on some parts of the system at weekends. In this regard, the need for an effective communications strategy was stressed to the company on several occasions. However, specific and final details relating to the implementation of the project, including the extent of closures of the system at weekends on the southern line, were first made known to me by the chairman of CIE and Irish Rail in the course of a meeting with him on 6 October. The final details of Irish Rail's plans were not conveyed to my Department. On 26 September, some draft details of a proposed public information campaign by Irish Rail were given to officials in my Department by Irish Rail executives. The planned campaign was subsequently changed and I understand the campaign launched on 6 October by Irish Rail was somewhat different from that which was conveyed to my officials. I have since expressed my concern to the chairman about the manner in which the public was informed of Irish Rail's plans and made it clear to him that, even at this point, it is imperative that the public is kept informed about any disruption.
Additional Information.I understand the upset the works will cause both to weekend users of the DART and to businesses along the line. However, there is an inevitable level of disruption to services attendant upon works such as these being undertaken on an active railway. I am pleased Irish Rail has agreed to my request to provide normal weekend ser vices in December in the run-up to Christmas. This will go some way towards assuaging the fears of city centre traders in the vitally important period leading up to Christmas.
I do not know what is the Minister's definition of "some time". I understand, however, that officials in his Department were aware of the plans at least six weeks in advance of the announcement that DART services would close down on Saturdays and Sundays. Would it not have been prudent of the officials in question to mention to the Minister that services were to be reduced by 30%?
Would it not be prudent to use some of the 80 new DMU diesel cars to provide a weekend service between Greystones and the city centre and, in nine months, from the northside to the city centre, given that they will not all be in use on Saturdays and Sundays and do not require electricity, which will be shut down during the upgrading works? Is the Minister aware that technology is available to provide pre-cast platforms which could be installed in all 25 stations over one weekend, rather than over an 18 month period? Will he, even at this late stage, review the feasibility of this option?
As I stated, in the course of normal, regular meetings with the management of Irish Rail, officials of my Department were informed in general terms of preparatory work on the project in question. At meetings in August and September between officials of the Department and Irish Rail, the company indicated it was planning weekend closures. On 6 September, the draft posters for an advertising campaign were handed over. At that stage, it was not clear whether Irish Rail had finally decided whether there would be full closure of the line between Pearse Station and Greystones because the company had indicated in a press release some time previously that a final decision had not been taken on the sections of the line which might close. The publicity literature showed the campaign commencing on 28 September. The chairman subsequently brought this to my attention in detail on 6 October. I take this opportunity to thank the chairman of Irish Rail and the company for agreeing to my request to run the DART service as normal in the southern corridor in the three weeks leading up to the Christmas break.
Did the company's PR consultant not inform the Minister of the plans?
I ask Deputy Shortall not to interrupt during Priority Questions.
As regards the use of DMUs on the DART line, I will bring the matter to the attention of Irish Rail to ascertain if such a measure would meet its needs from an operational point of view. During yesterday's launch of the DMUs, the company informed me that it would consider using some of the new units on longer distance routes during down periods in the city. This is, however, an operational matter for Irish Rail.
In light of the fact that the Department knew of the plans at least six weeks beforehand, will the Minister ask his officials the reason he was not informed of the company's decision? Will he direct Irish Rail to operate DMU units which are not in use on the commuter lines at weekends on the DART line in order that at least a basic level of service is available?
As regards the proposed bus service, it will take 90 minutes, for example, for the 84 bus from Greystones to travel into the city centre. Will the Minister take steps to ensure the regular 84X service, which takes 50 minutes to come into town, is available at weekends to provide a substantial level of service for commuters? Why is the integrated ticketing system promised in 1994 not in place? It would ensure that commuters who cannot use the DART service would be able to use buses without having to buy new tickets.
As regards the DART signalling programme, would it not be logical to carry this out in tandem with the current upgrading works, rather than closing down the lines again in 2005 to introduce the new system?
As my Department was not informed of the details of the scheduling six months in advance, the Deputy is not accurate.
I stated the Department knew of the plans six weeks in advance.
That is also inaccurate. The Deputy's proposal on the use of DMUs relates to an operational matter. It appears to be a good idea and I will pass it on to the company to see if it will take it on board. It appears that it will be late 2004 or early 2005 before the technology to enable integrated ticketing to be introduced is fully rolled out.
